School Choice and Competition: Evidence from the Netherlands

Tinbergen Institute Discussion Paper No. 08-109/3

17 Pages Posted: 13 Nov 2008

See all articles by Elbert Dijkgraaf

Elbert Dijkgraaf

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) - Erasmus School of Economics (ESE); Erasmus University Rotterdam, SEOR-ECRi

Stephanie Van der Geest

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) - Erasmus School of Economics (ESE)

Raymond H. J. M. Gradus

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam; Tinbergen Institute

Date Written: November 10, 2008

Abstract

The literature suggests that competition among schools might increase quality. However, not much empirical evidence is present as only a few countries allow competition at a large scale. One exception is the Netherlands. Free parental choice is the leading principle of the Dutch education system since the beginning of the 20th century. Based on panel data for the Netherlands we show that there is a relation between competition and student achievement in upper secondary education, but that it is negative. In addition, private schools have higher quality levels.

Keywords: Education, competition, school choice

JEL Classification: H70, I20

Suggested Citation

Dijkgraaf, Elbert and Van der Geest, Stephanie and Gradus, Raymond H. J. M., School Choice and Competition: Evidence from the Netherlands (November 10, 2008). Tinbergen Institute Discussion Paper No. 08-109/3, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1298978 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1298978

Elbert Dijkgraaf (Contact Author)

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) - Erasmus School of Economics (ESE) ( email )

P.O. Box 1738
3000 DR Rotterdam, NL 3062 PA
Netherlands

Erasmus University Rotterdam, SEOR-ECRi ( email )

P.O. Box 1738
H 7-34
Rotterdam, 3000 DR
Netherlands
+31 10 4082590 (Phone)
+31 10 4089650 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.ecri.nl

Stephanie Van der Geest

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) - Erasmus School of Economics (ESE) ( email )

P.O. Box 1738
3000 DR Rotterdam, NL 3062 PA
Netherlands

Raymond H. J. M. Gradus

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam ( email )

Amsterdam, ND North Holland
Netherlands

Tinbergen Institute ( email )

Burg. Oudlaan 50
Rotterdam, 3062 PA
Netherlands

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